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Ezam denies being involved in militant ops
06 Sep 2006 NST
KUALA LUMPUR: The Parti Keadilan Rakyat Youth chief
who was detained under the Internal Security Act
denied that he
had engaged in militant action and activities which
threatened national security.
Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor, 39, who was detained for 54
days from April 10, 2001, was kept under deplorable
conditions and
was mentally pressured to co-operate with police and
admit their allegations.
He said this at the High Court yesterday at the
hearing of his suit against the former
Inspector-General of Police,
Home Minister and the Government.
Mohd Ezam and seven other former ISA detainees are
suing the three defendants, seeking unspecified
amount of damages
over their unlawful detention and defamation.
The former IGP in a Press statement on April 11,
2001, had alleged that the plaintiffs had taken
militant actions.
This included acquiring explosives including bombs,
grenade launchers, Molotov cocktails, ball bearings
and other
forms of dangerous weapons during the demonstration
in October 1998, as well as obtaining the support of
silat
masters.
When questioned by his counsel R. Sivarasa, Mohd
Ezam said: "When I was arrested I was taken to an
unidentified
location and forced to strip in front of three
plain-clothes officers.
"I was given a pair of pants and a shirt to wear for
the 10 days I was detained there. I was also given a
bucket, two
mugs, a toothbrush, tooth- paste, a small towel and
a thin blanket. I was not given any underwear or
footwear."
Mohd Ezam said his spectacles were taken away and he
was placed in a small cell measuring 3.6m by 1.8m
which was dirty
and stuffy.
"The cell door contained a small window which was
used to deliver food and drinks.
"I had to sleep on a thin piece of plywood on the
cement floor, with no mattress or pillow given to
me.
"I was given a small packet of rice and yellow
coloured water, supposedly tea," he said.
Hearing before High Court judge Datuk Kang Hwee Gee
continues. |
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